A meeting of the Transportation Committee/Committee of the Whole was held in the Board Room, Administration Building, Toll Plaza, San Francisco, CA, on Thursday, April 7, 2011, at 10:00 a.m., Acting and Vice Chair Cochran presiding.

The Meeting Agenda for the March 17, 2011, meeting of the Advisory Committee on Accessibility, and the Minutes of the meeting of January 20, 2011, were furnished to the Transportation Committee. Copies are available in the Office of the District Secretary and on the District’s web site.

b.

Bus Passengers Advisory Committee

The Meeting Agenda for the March 23, 2011, meeting of the Bus Passengers Advisory Committee and the Meeting Summary of January 26, 2011, meeting of the including the following attachments, were furnished to the Transportation Committee. Copies are available in the Office of the District Secretary and on the District’s web site.

c.

Ferry Passengers Advisory Committee

There were no meetings of the Ferry Passengers Advisory Committee in March 2011.

Action by the Board – None Required

2.

Authorize Execution of an Agreement with the Marin County Transit District to Operate the Muir Woods Shuttle for the Summer of 2011

In a memorandum to Committee, Planning Director Ron Downing, Deputy General Manager/Bus Transit Division Teri Mantony and General Manager Denis Mulligan reported on staff’s recommendation to authorize execution of an Agreement with the Marin County Transit District (MCTD) to operate the Muir Woods Shuttle (Shuttle) on weekends and holidays from Saturday, May 7, 2011, through Sunday, September 25, 2011, with the understanding that the service will be paid for by the MCTD at a cost not to exceed $331,836.00.

The staff report stated that the MCTD assumed operation of the Shuttle service in 2009, following a successful four-year demonstration project administered by the Marin County Department of Public Works. During 2009 and 2010, Golden Gate Transit (GGT) operated this service under one-year service agreements with the MCTD.

The staff report stated that the MCTD sent a written request to the District on January 14, 2011, requesting that GGT again operate the Shuttle service during the Summer 2011 season. GGT staff responded by preparing a cost proposal that follows the terms of the Marin Local Service Agreement, with an estimated project cost not to exceed $331,836.00 for Summer 2011 service. The MCTD Board of Directors took action at its meeting of March 14, 2011, to approve the District’s proposal for the Summer 2011, service, which will be identical to that operated in 2010. Costs are estimated not to exceed $331,836.00, including operating costs, vehicle lease costs and marketing/promotion expenses, all of which will be paid by the MCTD.

At the meeting, Mr. Downing briefly summarized the staff report, stating that the recommendation is to continue operating the Shuttle service for 2011. He stated that the Shuttle has been operating since 2005, and the MCTD desires to continue the service and its relationship with GGT for this service. He indicated that the MCTD will obtain three more buses that are expected to be available for upcoming seasons. The MCTD has requested inspection services for buses at a later time in 2011.

Mr. Downing stated that the District has recommended that the MCTD lease five coaches for the Shuttle service, and that the not-to-exceed cost is based on this recommendation. He concluded by stating that the MCTD’s decision is expected very soon, and that approval of this recommendation will have no fiscal impact to the District.

Discussion ensued, including the following comment and inquiries:

Director Grosboll made the following inquiries:

He inquired as to whether the District leases coaches from the MCTD, or whether the MCTD leases from the District. In response, Mr. Downing stated that the District leases buses from an agency in Southern California which, in turn, serve the MCTD. The Shuttle buses are unique in that the vehicles must be narrower than a standard coach, and shorter than most coaches in the District’s fleet, in order to negotiate the roadway on the way to Muir Woods.

He inquired as to whether additional insurance would be required. Mr. Downing responded in the negative.

Director Sobel inquired as to whether the MCTD will provide operators and administration once all five buses are available. In response, Mr. Mulligan stated that the service will be operated in accordance with the Marin Local Service Agreement.

Director Snyder inquired as to whether the District will advertise the Shuttle service. Mr. Downing responded affirmatively, and added that one key to success is variable message signs visible from Highway 101 that indicate when the parking lots at Muir Woods are filled to capacity.

Director Boro commented that the Late District Director Charles McGlashan had advocated for the Shuttle service, which has been very successful in reducing the number of vehicles on area roadways.

Director Stroeh commented his agreement with the statement made by Director Boro.

Director Brown commented that all expenses are reimbursed to the District, which is an important consideration.

Staff recommended and the Committee concurred by motion made and seconded by Directors BORO/BROWN to forward the following recommendation to the Board of Directors for its consideration:

RECOMMENDATION

The Transportation Committee recommends that the Board of Directors authorize execution of a one-year Agreement with Marin County Transit District (MCTD) to operate the Muir Woods Shuttle on weekends and holidays from Saturday, May 7, 2011, through Sunday, September 25, 2011, with the understanding that the service will be paid for by MCTD at a cost not to exceed $331,836.00.

Action by the Board at its Meeting of April 8, 2011 – Resolution
NON-CONSENT CALENDAR

The monthly report on Bridge Traffic and Transit Ridership Trends and Transit Service Performance was furnished to the Transportation Committee. The report shows the annual trend lines for the 12-month period ending February 2011, and includes the following charts:

a.

Southbound Golden Gate Bridge Traffic Trend for the period from June 2004 to February 2011, showing the annual percentage change in traffic for the 12 months ending February 2011;

b.

Golden Gate Ferry Ridership Trend for the period from June 2004 through February 2011 showing the annual percentage change in ridership for the 12 months ending February 2011; and,

c.

GGT Bus Ridership Trend as a 12-month running total from June 2004 through February 2011 showing the annual percentage change in ridership for the 12 months ending February 2011.

The monthly report also included the Transit Service Performance Statistics Report for February 2011, showing that, during the month of February 2011, bus productivity as measured by passengers per bus trip, load factor, and passengers per bus service hour increased to more productive levels in February 2011, compared to January 2011. In the period from January 2011, to February 2011, there was an increase in Ferry productivity as measured by passengers per trip, load factor, and passengers per service hour. Copies of all of the above-listed items are available in the Office of the District Secretary and on the District’s web site.

Action by the Board – None Required

4.

Monthly Report on Activities Related to Marin Local Service Contract with the Marin County Transit District

The monthly report on activities related to the Marin local service contract with the Marin County Transit District (MCTD) was furnished to the Transportation Committee. The report included the following elements:

a.

Revised spreadsheets from the Planning Department outlining GGT bus service performance of both District regional routes and MCTD local routes, for February 2011; and,

b.

A spreadsheet from the Auditor-Controller outlining the history of payments made from July 1, 2010 to March 2011, by MCTD to the District, for intra-county bus transit services in Marin County.

Due to the high volume of agendas and minutes from Marin County agencies related to this item, hard copies of those items were not provided to the Committee. Instead, electronic versions of the following items were posted on the District’s web site:

a.

MCTD Board Agenda Packet for March 14, 2011;

b.

Transportation Authority of Marin (TAM) Board of Commissioners Agenda for March 24, 2011;

c.

TAM Board of Commissioners Draft Minutes of February 24, 2011;

d.

TAM Executive Committee Agenda for March 14, 2011; and,

e.

TAM Executive Committee Minutes of February 14, 2011.

Copies of all of the above-listed items are available in the Office of the District Secretary and on the District’s web site.

Action by the Board – None Required

5.

Public Comment

There was no public comment.

6.

Adjournment

All business having been concluded, the meeting was adjourned at 10:15 a.m.